Harpenden Highland Games/ Roddy Cannon Eulogy

 Harpenden Highland Games John Angus Smith was the overall winner at the games held at the weekend near London. Adjudicator Roddy Livingstone:  Re your report on Corby, the points regarding pipe bands / teaching etc. are well made and mirror comments of people like myself, Andrew Hall, Hugh Jamieson, Alan Beaton, Jimmy Banks, ‘Gabby’ Roe, Brian MacRae….. (the list goes on) over many years!  The Scottish Piping Society of London is seeking…

PP Editor’s Blog: Corby Games/ German Results/ Inverness Games/ Film Gig

Forty years ago I was at Corby, in Northants, for the World Pipe Band Championships (yes, the fated we wuz robbed event). Last weekend saw me back there almost to the day to judge the solo piping. Thanks to the influx of steelworkers in the 50s and 60s, Corby has a strong Scottish heritage, and a few thousand turned out for the games and pipe band competition. Before proceedings got…

Updated with 78th Reunion/Angus MacKay Part 2/ Drumtochty Games/ NE League

Press Release on the forthcoming Celtic Connections concert featuring former members of the World Championship winning 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band: ‘The seminal 1987 ‘Live in Ireland’ concert recording is to be celebrated at 2016 Celtic Connections Festival in Glasgow. A group from the 1987 vintage 78th Fraser Highlanders Pipe Band and household names of the pipe band world come together to form a special once-in-a-lifetime band of big talent and…

Luss Games Results & Comment

Today’s Luss Highland Games went ahead despite heavy rain showers and gusty winds. The entries were what one might expect in such circumstances: six in the ceol mor and seven in the ceol beag. The above picture shows Donald MacPhee on the piobaireachd board on his way to first prize. Piob: 1 Donald MacPhee, Battle of Auldearn No 1 2 Ben Duncan, MacDougall’s Gathering 3 Rebecca Tierney, Corrienessan’s Salute 4 Ben…

Famous Pipers: Angus MacKay/ Forres Thoughts

The first part of our latest Famous Pipers column is carried today. It concerns one of the great piping figures of the past, Angus MacKay. Not only did Angus MacKay provide the modern era with a link to the MacCrimmons, he also produced a book of music highly esteemed since it first appeared in 1838. In addition to this, MacKay co-invented the ‘competition’ pipe march, was the first Sovereign’s Piper…